Mark 4: 1-25, A Parable About Parables

Now Mark provides a series of parables which seem to have been the core of Jesus’s teaching circuit.

Mark 4: 1-2a
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

He taught them many things by parables, 

Most of Jesus's teachings will be in parables!  Why? (In modern parlance, this is an example of "active learning".)  His first parable has special significance.

Mark 4: 2b-9
and in his teaching said:
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

"Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.

"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

In this parable, a common agricultural scene focuses on the effects of the seeds tossed out by the farmer.  The planting leads to various outcomes, followed by Jesus's admonition, "He who has ears...", a phrase that essentially says, "Listen, this is important!"

Mark 4: 10-20
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, "`they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' "

 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. 

Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 

Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

The quote in verse 12 is from Isaiah 6:9-10.

The main message of the parable (along with the chastising of the disciples) appears to be: "You are seeds -- now decide your response to the word (and me)."  I believe Jesus's choice of parables as a teaching tool is explained by this first parable of Mark.  A parable pushes the listener to think, to mull over the story.  If the listener is serious about their spiritual life, the story becomes a puzzle to which they return again and again, actively engaging with the topic.  The parable stories themselves begin to grow deep and take root, like seeds....

The parables of Jesus often involve some metaphor, but the metaphor is not a perfect one and that is often a good thing.  (This may be deliberate on the part of the storyteller.)  Here the seed is "the word" (or message) but it also becomes a symbol of the individual listener.  ("Are you a good seed?")  I've heard people debate which is the correct interpretation.  But that debate assumes the metaphor is perfect and it is not.

Mark 4: 21b-25
He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.  Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

Two more quick teachings follow the long early one.  What is the role of these two teachings?  Why does Mark include the "lamp & lampstand" parable when Jesus had just said that he was giving the disciples "secrets" to the kingdom of God?

Next week we will continue in chapter 4 of Mark, with more teachings of Jesus.

Mark 3, Choosing Family

Jesus has recently had a dispute with the Pharisees over the use of the Sabbath.  Now another dispute arises, based on another healing.

Mark 3: 1-6
Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Why is Jesus' angry?  He seems surprised.

To think about: What is the response of the Pharisees?  Why? (Who are the Herodians?  What is the relevance of the collaboration between Pharisees and Herodians?)

Mark 3: 7-12
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Why are the crowds coming?  The people are coming from a significantly large reason, some traveling a hundred miles or more in a time when such travels would take more than a week.

What is the reason for the boat? (Mark says very little in the way of explanation.)

To think about: Why does Jesus give these strict orders to keep quiet?  Jesus repeatedly tries to suppress the news of his healings.  Why?

Mark 3: 13-19
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus has just appointed twelve men to be his followers, his disciples.  Why 12?  (What is the Old Testament significance of this number?)

From the NIV footnotes on verse 14: Some ancient manuscripts do not have "designating them apostles"; that explanatory phrase may have been added later by a scribe.

Mark 3: 20-30
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.

"I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

There are several forms of rejection of Jesus here.  What are they?

Couldn’t Satan fool people by pretending to be on the wrong side, by driving out demons?  (I don’t completely understand Jesus’ answer.)

Mark 3: 31-35
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

This passage began with Jesus choosing twelve special followers, "apostles" (or "sent ones".)  It ends with Jesus making a statement about his real priorities, his true "family".  It is clear that at this time Jesus's family is not supportive of him.

Mark 2, Raising the Roof

After preaching in the cities of Galilee, Jesus returns to Capernaum, the home of his disciples.

Mark 2:1-5, Faithful friends raise a roof
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.  So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.  Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

One of my favorite stories!  As Jesus moves around, crowds follow him.  The home (as suggested by William Barclay) was probably quite open and the crowd would have flowed in and prevented any path to Jesus.  But the roof was a place to sit in hot weather and designed to support people.

Why did Jesus first offer to forgive?  Why did he do it in that order, forgiveness (when not asked) before healing (which was the obvious request)?

Mark 2:6-12, The Sabbath interferes
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,  "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?  Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." 

He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Why did Jesus forgive, then heal?  Why did he do it in that order?  Clearly that matters most, but that answer is incomplete.

Don't miss the sadness, the tragedy of the pharisaic legalism.  To the religious leaders, rules trump everything.

Imagine the reaction of the religious teachers when the man gets up!

Mark 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.  While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus continues to reach out to the broken and downtrodden, unlike the religious leaders who tend to push those people away.  This is a major theme in the gospels – Jesus (and Christianity) is for the weak, not the strong!

Sometime ago I read a post by a Muslim teacher on why Islam was better than Christianity.  The main idea of his post was this: Mohammed surrounded himself with powerful men; Jesus surrounded himself with weaklings!  "Look at Peter, for example," the Muslim evangelist said.  The disciples of Jesus were worthless, according to that Islamic teacher.  How true.  But that is Christianity in a nutshell – Jesus reached out to people who need a Savior (and know it), to people who are broken and hurting.

A note -- Levi, son of Alphaeus, is also called Matthew.

Mark 2:18-22

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.  But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Who is fasting?  Why do you think Jesus is asked this question?

The fasting of John's disciples gave a veneer of religious commitment.  Apparently the disciples of Jesus, following their master, were not as committed, were not as "religious" as those of John.  The outside observers wondered about this.

What is Jesus’ response?  What does this mean? What does this stuff about the new garment, old wineskins, mean?  (New wineskins stretched as the wine fermented.  Old wineskins were already stretched to their limit and so new wine poured into old wineskins would eventually burst the bag of wine.)

Mark 2:23-28
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.  The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."

Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

What do the Pharisees ask?  Why do you think they ask this?  What is their motive? What is Jesus’ response?  (What does this mean?)

How is this similar to the fasting incident? 

Note the phrase, "Son of Man".  This is a Messianic term. Jesus is identifying himself as Messiah.

Mark 1: 29-45, The Healer

Jesus has just spoken in the synagogue and healed a man with an "unclean spirit".

Mark 1:29-34, Also a healer!

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.  So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.  The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Simon Peter is surely the main source for the gospel of Mark.  One of the early miracles of Jesus is to heal the mother of Simon's wife.  We don't know the severity of the fever but, like a typical mother, once she is feeling better, Simon's mother-in-law begins to serve the small crowd in her home!

The effect is immediate.  After sunset (when it is cooler?) the crowds come.  The "whole town" has heard and shows up as the door.  And Jesus responds.  Once again there are "evil spirits"; once again they are commanded not to identify Jesus!

A few simple observations: Yes, we all need help -- both teaching and healing.  And there are times to identify Jesus (we will see some later) and times to be quiet.

William Barclay suggests that the reason for people bringing the sick after sunset is to avoid working on the Sabbath.

Mark 1: 35-39, The ministry begins

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

After healing Simon's mother-in-law and many in the community of Caesarea, Jesus begins a more general ministry throughout Galilee (northern Israel.)   The ministry begins with Jesus isolated and praying.  (Why does God need to pray?)

Where does Jesus preach?  What are the results?  (Why?)

Mark 1: 40-45, A leper approaches
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.   Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

What is Jesus's reaction to the leper's request?  (In verse 1:40 The Greek word translated leprosy here was used for various diseases affecting the skin--not necessarily leprosy.  But clearly this is a serious, incurable disease.)

Why did Jesus give him the strong warning?  What is wrong with the leper telling everyone of Jesus's work?

Mark 1: 1-28, The Son of God

The gospel of Mark is one of the earliest New Testament writings, probably the earliest gospel.  It is brief, energetic, dynamic.  It starts right in....

Mark 1:1-8  The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The quote in verse 2 is from the Old Testament prophet, Malachi (Mal. 3:1) and the quote in verse 3 is from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3.)  What do these quotes say about the expected recipients of this letter by Mark?

Judea was the center of the ancient homeland of the Jews, the descendants of Israel.  In this time, the region was under the control of the Roman empire, with considerable autonomy left to the local peoples.  The phrase, "make straight paths for him", is an announcement that significant change is coming.

How is John the Baptist described?  What type of individual is he?  And why does the story seem to begin with him?  (Even to the ancient reader, John is a strange character.  The reader is expected to be a little shocked by him!)

Mark skips any significant prologue.  The others gospels tell us a little about Jesus's life before his ministry began.  Mark is simpler, more direct.  All that matters here is the short three years of Jesus's ministry!

A pericope is a short dynamic story, somewhat self-contained.  Much of the Gospel of Mark consists of these short events, dramatically recalled by Peter, copied down later by Mark. Here is the second pericope in Mark's gospel:

Mark 1:9-13  The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- baptism and temptation
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Nazareth is some distance north of Galilee, 70-80 miles. 

Why is Jesus baptized?  What happens when he is baptized?  Theologically, philosophically, this is an intriguing passage.  If Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, as taught elsewhere in the New Testament – and in the early church – why does he need to be baptized?

Note that heaven was "torn" open!  This describes a dramatic, almost violent, action.

What does Jesus do after the baptism?  Why?  What is baptism?  How is Jesus' baptism different from that of John?

Why does Mark leave out so much?  (Eg. "He was with the wild animals and angels attended him.")  Couldn't he have said a little more??

1:14-15  The kingdom begins
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Jesus has finished his time in the desert and is ready for ministry.  Does the imprisonment of John stir Jesus to ministry?

Jesus emphasizes the "good news" (or "gospel") of the coming kingdom.  The concept of repentance is a positive change, in the direction of the kingdom of God.

1:16-20 Four disciples
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.  Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

There are now four official disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John.  Why does Jesus suddenly pick these people?  (Is it really sudden?  Or does it appear this way through Mark's collapsing of time?)

Capernaum is near Nazareth, in northern Israel (Galilee.)  Jesus first begins teaching, as any Jew would, in a synagogue, on the Sabbath (Saturday.)

Mark 1:21-28 A different teacher!
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.  The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"

The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.  The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Of course news spreads!  Is this good?

How is Jesus's teaching received?

(NIV footnotes say "evil spirit" might be "unclean spirit".)  What is the effect of the "evil" or "unclean" spirit?  And why does Jesus hush it up?!

We will continue with Mark 1 next time.

I Corinthians 16, Some final things

Paul begins to close up his letter to Corinth, first discussing a collection being raised for the church in Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 16: 1-4, The gift for Jerusalem
Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Verse 2 describes meetings that occur on the first day of the week.  It is likely that the first day of the week, what we now call Sunday, was the special day the church met as a group.  This tradition, separate from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) would spread throughout the region, eventually becoming the traditional day of worship for Christians.

1 Corinthians 16: 5-7, Paul's plans
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you--for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.  I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

Paul hopes for another trip, one with a lengthy stay.

1 Corinthians 16: 8-9, Remaining in Ephesus
But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

Meanwhile Paul remains in Ephesus, as apparently recorded by Luke in Acts 19.

1 Corinthians 16: 10-12, Timothy and Apollos

If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. 

Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

The "brother", Apollos, already has strong influence in Corinth; see chapter 1 of this letter.  Apollos was recognized as a mature and accomplished Christian leader.  Luke introduces him in Acts 18:24-28.

1 Corinthians 16: 13-14, Be courageous; do all in Love
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.

Do all in Love!  (See chapter 13!)  But acting in love does require courage.

1 Corinthians 16: 15-18, Value Stephanas and his family
You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.

I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

I find these casual remarks fascinating -- we see a variety of committed disciples, living out their lives in places like Corinth and Ephesus, members of the Kingdom of Heaven who seem to have no desire to be famous or achieve some type of spiritual fame.

1 Corinthians 16: 19-24, Final greetings
The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

If anyone does not love the Lord--a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Like the letter to Galatia, Paul adds a line written in his own hand, distinct from the general script written out by his secretary (amenuensis).

The NIV footnotes tell us that the Greek word translated "Priscilla" in verse 19 is really "Prisca", a variant of the name.  In many cultures, such a shortening of a name is a sign of affection.

The NIV footnotes also point out that the phrase is verse 22 translated "Come, O Lord" is the Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha".  It could also be translated, "Our Lord has come!"  This is the only place in the New Testament where this Aramaic phrase occurs.

Tomorrow we will return to study one of the gospels, my favorite, the Gospel of Mark.

The Afterlife

The end of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is a suitable place to explore Paul's description of the afterlife.  Paul insists that he saw Jesus after his crucifixion and resurrection and claims some 500 others did also.  Paul insists the belief in the resurrection is central to his faith in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus.

Paul then goes on to claim that there will be a final Resurrection of the dead and a "celestial body", a true physical body, but in many ways different from the current earthly one.  How this occurs is unknown and probably unknowable.  Christians have added layers to this interpretation since then.

Central to the theology of the afterlife, within Christianity, is a belief that there will be an afterlife and that one's part in the afterlife is linked to one's response to Jesus is this one.  After this, the viewpoints begin to diverge.  Do those who reject Jesus go on to a place of conscious torment, often called Hell?  Is Hell/Hades a place of annihilation, of a continuance of death and the end of existence?  Is there some type of "cleansing" place of Purgatory? (See here, here and here, as part of a book review on the Jesus Creed blog by Scot McKnight, of the book Four Views on Hell.)

Does one, after death, immediately move into a conscious state, with the soul separated but conscious and aware? Or does life require a body and so after death one "sleeps", unaware, until recreated in the final Resurrection?  The Jesus Creed blog has a brief discussion on that also.

Of course, there is a wide-ranging article on the afterlife at Wikipedia.

I have my own opinions on this ... but the only one I will share here is this: like Paul, I believe (and hope) there will be a Resurrection.  After that, it is OK to not be sure about any of the many views on how the afterlife will occur. One can have doubts.  One should ask questions about the form it takes and whether our existence, as Scot McKnight asks, is "separation of soul and body (dualism)" or "physicality."

We will all find out soon enough....

Next week we will begin studying my favorite gospel, The Gospel of Mark.